HE was known for driving the streets of Newcastle in luxury cars as he oversaw some of the region's most lucrative property deals.
But Anthony Di Nardo's fall from grace continues as the former real estate boss's Belle Property network has been revealed to owe at least $1.46 million to 15 unsecured creditors.
It is the second time in eight years that Di Nardo has called in liquidators to his failed property businesses, after the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) had pursued him for debts of almost $2 million.
It is unclear how accurate the latest debt level is, as Di Nardo has repeatedly written "unknown" in a series of documents filed with the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC), which are designed to set out each company's assets and liabilities.
According to the documents, the largest creditor of the 13 companies Di Nardo placed in liquidation earlier this month is the ATO, owed more than $1 million.
The Newcastle Herald has previously reported that in July 2018, Di Nardo liquidated two companies linked to his previous McGrath property franchises, which owed $801,755 to 13 unsecured creditors, including more than $730,000 to the ATO.
The latest companies being liquidated were linked to five Hunter-based Belle Property franchises that Di Nardo used to run.
They are ZCT Property Management Cessnock, ZCT Sales Cessnock, ZCT Sales Charlestown, ZCT Sales Hunter Valley, ZCT Sales Newcastle, ZCT Sales Port Stephens, DRE Group, Hunter Region PM, Hunter Region Sales, TRE Investments Group, ZCT Escapes, ZCT Property Management Newcastle and ZCT Property MGT Port Stephens.
The reports reveal the ATO had pursued two of the companies for $1.041 million, and that a further $418,000 was outstanding to other unsecured creditors.
These include $180,000 owed to the Office of State Revenue and smaller amounts to trade creditors responsible for video content and real estate billboards.
Di Nardo is also listed as a creditor for the 13 companies, claiming to be owed $118,000.
The liquidations follow a NSW Fair Trading ruling in May that Di Nardo was not a "fit and proper person" to hold a real estate licence, after the regulator found that he "engaged in a pattern of inappropriate behaviour".
The penalty means the 54-year-old cannot operate as a real estate agent, which scuttles plans he had to relaunch under a new brand after he was ousted by Belle Property late last year.
Just days after the regulator revoked his licence, Di Nardo contacted liquidator Sule Arnautovic, of Salea Advisory, who was officially appointed to wind up the 13 companies earlier this month.
Mr Arnautovic is the same liquidator Di Nardo used in 2018 when he closed two McGrath franchises and moved to Belle Property.
The liquidator's statutory reports for both failed McGrath companies identified "insolvent trading" and "uncommercial transactions" as possible avenues for creditors to recover money. However, creditors received nothing because there was no money to investigate any claims.
Di Nardo was arrested by police in December, accused of using his "position of power" as a business owner to sexually and indecently assault five former female staff members over 16 years.
Police charged him with five offences following a Newcastle Herald investigation that revealed allegations of sexual assault and harassment against female staff dating back decades, which he denies.
He has not yet entered pleas to charges of sexual intercourse without consent, sexually touching without consent, two counts of indecent assault, carrying out a sexual act with another without consent, and stalking.
Defence solicitor Drew Hamilton told Newcastle Local Court in December that "this is going to be a defended trial".
In his 24-year real estate career, Di Nardo has won multiple accolades and was recognised as one of the highest performers in the industry.
He was listed at number 47 in Real Estate Business's national top 100 agents last year.
